CREVE COEUR, Mo. — The #9 Campbellsville University men's volleyball team kept its perfect record intact Friday, securing two hard-fought four-set victories to open the Missouri Baptist Spartan Invitational. The Tigers (4-0) defeated Culver-Stockton College 3-1 before downing the host Spartans 3-1 in the nightcap inside the Petty Sports and Recreation Complex.
- The #9 Campbellsville University men's volleyball team improved to 4-0 on the season with a pair of 3-1 victories over Culver-Stockton College and Missouri Baptist University.
- Opposite hitter Denzel Madrigal anchored the offense across both matches, tallying a combined 26 kills on efficient hitting.
- Outside hitter Savvas Christou provided a spark with 23 total kills, including the final two points to seal a thrilling 32-30 set victory against Missouri Baptist.
- Setter Alonzo Vega orchestrated the attack with 79 total assists on the day, averaging nearly 10 assists per set.
- In the opener against Culver-Stockton, the Tigers hit a blistering .327 as a team while holding the Wildcats to just .110.
- The Tigers conclude their road trip Saturday against Graceland University and the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy Saturday, January 31st.
Match 1: Campbellsville 3, Culver-Stockton 1
In the opener, Campbellsville displayed offensive dominance to put away the Wildcats (25-12, 25-17, 17-25, 25-18).
The Tigers wasted no time asserting themselves, hitting .414 in the opening set. Led by
Savvas Christou and
Fernando Rodriguez, Campbellsville raced to a double-digit lead. Christou, who finished the match with 11 kills and two aces, helped close out the first frame with a decisive run.
After taking the second set 25-17 behind strong serving from
Ayoube Hamadache, the Tigers stumbled in the third as offensive errors allowed Culver-Stockton to extend the match. However, Campbellsville regrouped in the fourth. Senior setter
Alonzo Vega, who dished out 35 assists, redistributed the offense to find Madrigal and Hamadache. A 5-0 run late in the set, capped by kills from
Camilo Fernandez and Christou, sealed the 25-18 win.
Madrigal led the team with 12 kills on a .526 hitting percentage, while Hamadache added 10 kills and two aces.
Match 2: Campbellsville 3, Missouri Baptist 1
The nightcap proved to be a grittier affair, as the Tigers battled past the host Spartans (25-20, 32-30, 19-25, 25-15).
The first set was a back-and-forth battle until late kills by
Pedro Zavatini and Madrigal sparked a run that gave CU a 25-20 edge.
The second set was the highlight of the day—a marathon frame that saw both teams fight off multiple set points. With the score knotted at 30-30, the Tigers turned to Christou. The outside hitter delivered back-to-back terminal kills to clinch the set 32-30 and give Campbellsville a commanding 2-0 lead.
After dropping the third set, the Tigers left no doubt in the fourth. The defense tightened, and the serving game heated up.
Sebastian Cardona delivered a clutch service ace to push the lead to double digits, and the Tigers cruised to a 25-15 victory.
Madrigal again led the way with 14 kills, while Zavatini chipped in 11 kills and four blocks. Libero
Andrew Ovalle anchored the back row with a match-high 18 digs.
